I have the right to know, after your little trip out to the jail

not long ago. Hasn't Frank as much money as you hoped?"

There was no evading his impudence. Either she would have to put

up with it or ask him to leave. And now she did not want him to

leave. His words were barbed but they were the barbs of truth. He

knew what she had done and why she had done it and he did not seem

to think the less of her for it. And though his questions were

unpleasantly blunt, they seemed actuated by a friendly interest.

He was one person to whom she could tell the truth. That would be

a relief, for it had been so long since she had told anyone the

truth about herself and her motives. Whenever she spoke her mind

everyone seemed to be shocked. Talking to Rhett was comparable

only to one thing, the feeling of ease and comfort afforded by a

pair of old slippers after dancing in a pair too tight.

"Didn't you get the money for the taxes? Don't tell me the wolf is

still at the door of Tara." There was a different tone in his

voice.

She looked up to meet his dark eyes and caught an expression which

startled and puzzled her at first, and then made her suddenly

smile, a sweet and charming smile which was seldom on her face

these days. What a perverse wretch he was, but how nice he could

be at times! She knew now that the real reason for his call was

not to tease her but to make sure she had gotten the money for

which she had been so desperate. She knew now that he had hurried

to her as soon as he was released, without the slightest appearance

of hurry, to lend her the money if she still needed it. And yet he

would torment and insult her and deny that such was his intent,

should she accuse him. He was quite beyond all comprehension. Did

he really care about her, more than he was willing to admit? Or

did he have some other motive? Probably the latter, she thought.

But who could tell? He did such strange things sometimes.

"No," she said, "the wolf isn't at the door any longer. I--I got

the money."

"But not without a struggle, I'll warrant. Did you manage to

restrain yourself until you got the wedding ring on your finger?"

She tried not to smile at his accurate summing up of her conduct

but she could not help dimpling. He seated himself again,

sprawling his long legs comfortably.

"Well, tell me about your poverty. Did Frank, the brute, mislead

you about his prospects? He should be soundly thrashed for taking

advantage of a helpless female. Come, Scarlett, tell me

everything. You should have no secrets from me. Surely, I know

the worst about you."

"Oh, Rhett, you're the worst--well, I don't know what! No, he

didn't exactly fool me but--" Suddenly it became a pleasure to

unburden herself. "Rhett, if Frank would just collect the money

people owe him, I wouldn't be worried about anything. But, Rhett,

fifty people owe him and he won't press them. He's so thin

skinned. He says a gentleman can't do that to another gentleman.

And it may be months and may be never before we get the money."

"Well, what of it? Haven't you enough to eat on until he does

collect?"

"Yes, but--well, as a matter of fact, I could use a little money

right now." Her eyes brightened as she thought of the mill.

"Perhaps--"

"What for? More taxes?"

"Is that any of your business?"

"Yes, because you are getting ready to touch me for a loan. Oh, I

know all the approaches. And I'll lend it to you--without, my dear

Mrs. Kennedy, that charming collateral you offered me a short while

ago. Unless, of course, you insist."

"You are the coarsest--"

"Not at all. I merely wanted to set your mind at ease. I knew

you'd be worried about that point. Not much worried but a little.

And I'm willing to lend you the money. But I do want to know how

you are going to spend it. I have that right, I believe. If it's

to buy you pretty frocks or a carriage, take it with my blessing.

But if it's to buy a new pair of breeches for Ashley Wilkes, I fear